WIP + Methods

Understanding the role of the adolescent cranium and cerebrospinal fluid for protecting the brain against impact

Presented by Holly Bridge

Abstract: The effects of head impact can be detrimental to brain health, whether from an unintentional collision, such as in a road traffic accident or through participating in a contact sport, or intentional collision, such as sports where head contact against an opponent or an object (e.g., ball) is required. Additionally, there is increasing evidence that repeated sub-concussive head impact, may increase rates of neurodegenerative diseases later in life. However, it is unclear how anatomical variability at different stages of development contributes to susceptibility to brain injury, and specifically how any childhood head impact might contribute to later life disease. Many children participate in sport on a regular basis and around 1/3 of head injuries in children are sports-related. Therefore, it is key to understand how impact to the head of a child might differ from adults with respect to transmission of forces to the brain.

Few studies have considered the mechanical properties of the head in children during impact. Until recently only CT scans (often avoided because of negative effects) could provide an image of the skull and the layer of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beneath the membranes that cover the brain. The CSF may act as an “impact-absorbing layer” in trauma, therefore quantifying how CSF volume and bone thickness change through developmental stages may be crucial in understanding susceptibility to injury according to age.

This project aims to combine MRI imaging (now allowing for cranium imaging) and modelling to determine how cranium thickness and CSF volume vary across adolescence (10-18 years) and how these metrics influence force transmission. The MRI data will be used to evaluate the effects of head impact on the brain at different ages through finite element modelling. Different models of the adolescent head will be developed and used to determine impact absorption metrics for representative geometric representations of the head. Previously developed neck model and ball model by the group of Prof. Jerusalem will be used. Forces transmitted to the brain for various impact cases will then be assessed as a function of structural cranium and CSF features.

The outcomes of this project will be invaluable for understanding risks for young people engaging in contact sport and experiencing TBI. It will also provide baseline data for applications to investigate longitudinal changes that occur during adolescence and the effects of minor or major head impacts on the brain.

Multi-modal image registration (FSL MMORF)

Presented by Frederik Lange

Abstract TBC